Ball impelling device



y 8, 1963 E. B. OGDON 3,091,465

BALL IMPELLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 29, 1961 INVENTOR. ERNEjST B. 0GDO N FIG.3. Fe.4.

States Unite This invention relates generally to amusement devices and more particularly to an improved ball impelling device or toy for recreational use by one or more persons.

Ball impelling devices have been provided heretofore and generally take the form of an elongated handle structure provided with a paddle adjacent its lower end. Suitable actuating mechanism is provided for coupling the paddle to the handle structure such that a manual operation will serve to swing the paddle outwardly and impel a ball disposed in front of the paddle along a smooth, flat surface. Many of these prior art devices, however, include a relatively large number of components in the actuating means itself, which not only complicates the structure and may thereby decrease its reliability, but also will increase its manufacturing expense.

With the above in mind, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved ball impelling device which employs relatively few component parts to the end that greater reliability in operation is assured as well as a substantial decrease in manufacturing costs.

Another object of this invention is to provide an im proved ball impelling device in which the mechanism is so designed that a ball impelled thereby will be caused to remain in contact with a flat surface upon which it is caused to roll so that inadvertent lifting of the ball resulting in bouncing of the ball along the surface is avoided.

Briefly, these and other objects and advantages of this invention are attained by providing a pair of telescoping members constituting a holding means together with a paddle means coupled by an actuating means to the lower end of one of the members through a slot provided in the other member. The actuating means is responsive to telescoping movement of the members to swing the paddle means outwardly and impel a ball disposed in front of the paddle means. The other telescoping member having a slot serves the dual function of a guide from the one telescoping member and also as a fulcrum or camming means for the actuating means in moving the paddle structure. As a consequence, certain components heretofore required have been eliminated.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by referring to a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the ball impelling device of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partially exploded view of the device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view partly in cross section illustrating the paddle means in a contracted position; and,

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 illustrating the paddle means in an outwardly swung or extended position.

Referring first t-o FIGURE 1, the device comprises a shaft terminating at its upper end in an enlarged head portion 11 and arranged to have its lower end telescopically received within a tube 12. The lower end of the tube 12 terminates in a surface engaging foot 13. A paddle 14 of flared construction is coupled adjacent the lower end of the tube 12 and terminates short of the foot 13 so that it may swing outwardly without interference of the ground or other smooth surface upon which the foot 13 is positioned.

The foregoing arrangement is such that downward pres- 3,091,465 Patented May 28, 1963 sure applied to the upper portion 11 of the shaft 10 will cause the lower end to telescope within the tube 12 and through a suitable actuating mechanism swing the paddle 14 outwardly so as to impel a ball disposed in front thereof. The manner in which this operation is effected will become clearer by referring to FIGURES 2, 3, and 4.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 2, the lower end of the shaft 10 terminates in a bifurcated structure 15, 16 defining a slot 17 opening out the lower end of the shaft 10 and diametrically opposite sides of said lower end. Below the bifurcated structure is a compression spring .18 having its upper end engaging the shaft 10 and its lower end engaging a cylindrical plug 19 secured within the lower end of the tube 12 as by a screw 20. The spring 18 thus biases the shaft 10 upwardly or tends to urge the same telescopically from the tube 12.

A paddle bracket means 21 is secured to the paddle 14 at one end by means of a flange 22 provided with holes 23 and 24. These holes register with corresponding holes 25 and 26 in the upper portion of the paddle and suitable screws or rivets 27 and 28 are provided for securing the flange to the paddle. The paddle bracket 21 thus extends laterally from the upper rear portion of the paddle 14.

The other end of the paddle bracket 21 is provided with a transverse bore 29 arranged to be received between the bifurcated portions 15 and 16 in the slot 17 at the lower end of the shaft. The bifurcated portions 15 and 16 are provided with bores such as indicated at 30 registering with the bore 29 and arranged to receive a pivot pin 31 so that the paddle bracket 21 is pivoted to the lower end of the shaft 10. The tube 12 is provided with a single access hole to receive the pin 31.

In order to receive this portion of the paddle bracket, the tube 12 is provided with a lateral slot 32 adjacent the bifurcated portion, this slot defining upper and lower edges 32a and 32b somewhat further spaced apart than the length of the slot 17 in the shaft. The pin 31 is of a length corresponding to the outside diameter of the shaft 10 but is slightly less than the inside diameter of the tube 12 so that the shaft 10 can telescopically slide within the tube without interference from the pin 31.

The operation of the device will be evident from the foregoing description of the various components. Thus, with particular reference to FIGURES 3 and 4, it will be ice evident that without any downward pressure exerted on the shaft 10 the spring 118 will urge the shaft 10 upwardly until the upper side of the paddle bracket 21 engages the upper edge 32a of the slot in the tube 12. This engagernent will tend to rotate the paddle bracket 21 in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 31. The extent of rotation, however, will be checked by the lower end of the paddle 14 engaging the side of the tube 12.

If now a downward movement is exerted on the shaft 10 to telescope the lower end thereof inwardly within the tube 12, the bracket 21 will be urged downwardly until its lower side engages the lower edge 32b of the slot 32, thereby swinging the paddle bracket 21 in a counterclockwtise direction or upwardly to move the paddle 14 upwardly and outwardly. Cessation of the pressure on the shaft 10 will then permit the spring 18 to retract the paddle 14 as described in conjunction with FIGURE 3.

With reference once again to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the paddle includes reinforcing ribs 33 on its rear side opposite its ball engaging surface. Also, as is best shown in FIGURE 3, the ball engaging surface of the paddle is inclined forwardly from the vertical when in its retracted position. By this arrangement, a ball 34 when engaged by the ball engaging surface of the paddle 14 will be caused to roll along the ground and there is prevented which may result in bouncing.

forth between them along the smooth surface. Alte'rnatively, a single person may manipulate the device to roll a ball off a backboard. Since the lower flared portion of the paddle l4 terminates short of the ground engaging foot v13, there will be no interference. in the swinging movement of the paddle when the lower end of the tube 12 engages the floor or ground. H 7

By dimensioning the slot 32 to space the upper, and lower edges 32a and 32b a suflicient distance apart, some play is provided in the downward movement of the shaft 10 before the lower side of the paddle bracket 21 engages the lower edge 32b of the slot. The user can thus provide a more or less snap action to the paddle by building up momentum of movement ofthe shaft 10" prior to outward swinging of the paddle structure itself. This action will enable the ball to be initially propelled with a greater speed than could be realized if initial movement of the shaft 10 immediately initiated outward swinging movement of the paddle. p 1

LFromtheforego-ing description, it will be evident that the present invention has provided a greatly improved ball impelling device. Theentirestructure is extremely simple and employs a minimum number pf component parts. It is to be noted that the tube 1 2jitself serves the dual function of guiding movement of the shaft 10 and, asa consequence of the elongated lateral slot therein, provides proper fulcrum edges for movementof the paddle bracket 21 to effect the'desired swinging action of'the paddle.

While only one parti-cular embodimentp'f,thedevice has been shown and described, it will be evident that various changes may be made that fall clearly Within thefseope and spirit of the invention, The improved ball impell-ing device is therefore not to be tlioughtls ifjasv limited to the one embodiment set forth merely for illustrative purposes. What is claimed is: V 1. A ball impelling device comprisingincombinati-on: a shaft; a tube telescopically receiving one, end of said shaft and including a lateral. slot; a paddle means; actuating means comprising a paddle bracket secured at one end to said paddle means. and having its other end extending through said slot and pivotally connected to the lower end of said shaft, the lower edge of said slot serving as. a fulcrum for said paddle, bracket to cause pivoting movement of said paddle bracketupon inward tlescoping movement of said shaft in response to downward pressure thereon to move said. paddlejnteans whereby a ball in front of said paddle means'is impelled thereby;

and a spring in said tube biasing said shaft in an upward direction to cause outward telescoping movement thereof to return said shaft to its initial position after cessation of said downward pressure, H p

2. A ball impelling,devicecompr-ising, in combination: a shaft terminating at its upper end in an enlarged head portion and at its lowe r'end in a bifurcated structure defining a shaft slot opening out'said lower end and diametrically opposite side portions thereof; a tube terminating at its lower end i n aground engaging foot, and telescopically receiving within its upper end said lower end of said sh-aft, said tube having a lateral slot cut in its sidewall defining upper and lower edges juxtaposed said shaft slot; a stopping in the lower'portion of saidtube spaced ,belowfsaid lower end of. said shaft; a spring disposed in said tube between said plug and said lower en'dofsaid shaft urging said shaft upwardly; paddle means exterior of said tube; a laterally entending'paddle brackets ec ured to said paddle means at one end andpassing throughsaid tube slot to terminate within said shaft f'slot at its other "end so as to be straddled by saidb-ifurcated sturcture; and pin means passing through said bifurcated struoture and paddle bracket to pivot said paddle bracket forarcuate swinging movement in a vertical plane, whereby down- .ward telescoping movement of saidshaft within said tube by ,applying downward pi essure on said enlarged head portion causes the lower side of said paddle bracket'to engage said lower edge of said tube slot to swing" said;pa"ddlebracket upwardly and cause outwardiswinging move- ;ment'of said paddle means, said springurgingsaidshaft upwardly upon cessationof said downward pres'sure to cause the upper side of said paddle bracket to engage s'aid upper edge'of said tube slot to swing said paddle bfacket downwardly and cause retraction of said paddle means. 3. A ballimpelling device according to 2, inlwhich ;said paddlerneans extends downwardly from saidlpaddle bracket to terminate in a flared are-a defining a hall engaging surface short of said footyso that swinging ofsaid paddle does not interfere with any" flat surface upon'whi'ch said footis positioned.

A -b all impelling device according to 3," in which said paddle means includes reinforcing ribs on its back side opposite said ball engaging surface.

.5. A ball l m um device aocordingto claimjkin which said ball engagingsurface is tilted ;fofwardly"from a veftical plane when in its retracted position.

References: Cited inthe file of this patent U ITED STATES PATENTS 747,646 Sandstrom Dec. Q2, 1903 "2,518,913 'Levi Aug. 15, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 362,066 Great Britain Dams, 1931 

1. A BALL IMPELLING DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION; A SHAFT; A TUBE TELESCOPICALLY RECEIVING ONE END OF SAID SHAFT INCLUDING A LATERAL SLOT; A PADDLE MEANS; ACTUATING MEANS COMPRISING A PADDLE BRACKET SECURED AT ONE END TO SAID PADDLE MEANS AND HAVING ITS OTHER END EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE LOWER END OF SAID SHAFT, THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID SLOT SERVING AS A FULCRUM FOR SAID PADDLE BRACKET TO CAUSE PIVOTING MOVEMENT OF SAID PADDLE BRACKET UPON INWARD TELESCOPING MOVEMENT OF SAID SHAFT IN RESPONSE TO DOWNWARD PRESSURE THEREON TO MOVE SAID PADDLE MEANS WHEREBY A 